Agenda and minutes

To note any substitution of Members made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22.

The following substitutions of Committee Members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22:

Councillor H.Bower in place of J.Beckerman

Councillor L.Chesterman in place of T.Lyons

Apologies for absence was received from Councillors J.Beckerman and T.Lyons.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2018 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) detailing the erection of 72 residential units consisting of 46 houses (12 X 3 Bed and 34 X 4 Bed and 26 Flats (4 X 1 Bed and 22 X 2 Bed), 657 sqm retail floor space (A1) and 485.1 sqm office floor spaces (B1) A)) with associated landscaping, parking and infrastructure involving demolition of existing industrial (B2) buildings and residential units.

The application site, known as Entech House currently comprised of an industrial premise set back from London Road, surrounded by a large area of hardstanding and grassed areas with a significant numbers of mature trees.  The site also contained a residential property located towards the frontage of the site with London Road.  The majority of these buildings, including the residential property, were currently vacant.  The front office building and warehouse currently being used for the design and manufacture of materials for the rail industry. 

Access to the site was gained via London Road by a vehicular access.

The application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because Welwyn Parish Council support in principle the proposed development and this application is recommended for refusal.

Kathleen Urbahn, (Agent) spoke in favour of the application restating the main reasons the application should be approved, namely the need for housing and the existing Local Plan.

Members supported the Officers recommendation to refuse the application and expressed the views that the proposal was contrary to the Council’s emerging local plan policies and included insufficient marketing of the site had taken place over the last three years; the loss of this site could prejudice the continued use of neighbouring land for employment, the use does not provide facilities that are supportive Class B uses, could result in disproportionate amount of growth in Woolmer Green and that the application was premature in relation to the emerging Local Plan.

Following discussion, it was then moved by Councillor M.Larkins, seconded by Councillor P.Zukowskyj and

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

That planning permission be refused for the reasons set out in the report of Officers.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

The Chairman announced that the application had been withdrawn from the agenda following the removal of the objection from North Mymms Parish Council.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) detailing the conversion of existing garage to an independent residential dwelling unit including the insertion of three rear dormer windows, new windows and doors and alterations and erection of single attached garage.

The application sought full planning permission for the use of the existing garage as a separate dwellinghouse.  External alterations would include removal of part of a covered walkway to detach the garage from Maran House and demolition of the existing rear log-store.  The proposal also sought to demolish two out of three of the existing timber outbuildings located to the east of Maran House.

No change was envisaged to the single point of access or the current frontage driveway and parking area which can accommodate up to 8 car parking spaces independently. The proposed garage would increase car parking provision on site by one car parking space.

Officers clarified that the reason that the report had included the details of the planning application for conversion of the garaged to an independent residential dwelling unit including the insertion of three rear dormer windows, new windows and doors and alterations as due to the development had not been commenced.

The application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because Welwyn Parish Council has submitted a major objection.

‘Welwyn Parish Council feel this is of poor quality design that will lead to a cramped residence and would be unsuitable for permanent occupation.  We note that this is an application for an additional dwelling house in the green belt which we believe is an inappropriate development of the site, no very special circumstances apply which would clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness or any other harm’.

Paul Kasperczak, (applicant) speaking in support of the application which was for the conversion of the existing garage to an independent residential dwelling unit.

Welwyn Parish Councillor Magdalene Benson, spoke against the application, reiterating the objections of the Parish Council.

It was then proposed by Councillor T.Mitchinson, seconded by Councillor B.Fitzsimon and

RESOLVED:

(14 for and 1 against)

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the report of Officers.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

The Chairman announced that the application had been withdrawn from the agenda for further consideration and deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) detailing recent appeal decisions for the period 14 March 2018 to 5 April 2018.

RESOLVED:

That appeal decisions during this period be noted.

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) provided Members with a summary of planning applications that might be presented to the Committee over the next one or two months.  Members noted that if the call-in or application was withdrawn, the item would not be presented to Committee.

RESOLVED:

That future planning applications which might be considered by the Committee be noted.